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St Martha's Convent

Please note that this text is an extract from a reference work written in 1990.  As a result, some of the content may not reflect recent research, changes and events.

m) ST.MARTHA’S CONVENT: The order originated in France in 1643, but the Rottingdean convent was founded in 1903 and moved in 1924 to the present buildings which stand on a site formerly occupied by Rudyard Kipling’s miniature rifle-range. There are a number of small flint buildings and walls in the grounds, while the R.C. Primary School of Our Lady of Lourdes, opened in 1969, stands nearby.

Any numerical cross-references in the text above refer to resources in the Sources and Bibliography section of the Encyclopaedia of Brighton by Tim Carder.

St Martha's Convent
Photo by Tony Mould

Comments about this page

  • I have very happy memories of the Convent. It was my first school 1947/49 and I well remember Sister Michael Mary and Sister Veronica who taught me the piano. I have a school group photograph of that period. I wonder where they are all now.

    By Barry White (01/12/2009)
  • I was a boarder from 1953-1963. I too remember Sr. Michael Mary, Sr. Veronica, Sr. Mary Pauline. It remains one of my happiest memories.

    By Tina O'Brien (nee Smith) (06/04/2010)
  • My mother Marjorie Eileen Murrell went to a convent in Brighton in or around 1920 or so. There was a long driveway up to it and her mother took her there when she was little. She was a Holford grandchild and her mother left her and her other brother and sisters and went to Canada. Their names were Beatrice, Jimmy, Elsie, Dorothy and Marjorie (my mother).

    By Jean Farrington (24/07/2011)
  • Recently alighted on this site only to find some discrepancies with regard to the religious staff of St Martha’s Convent. Sr Veronica was never a teacher, as far as I know, as she was clearly not educated enough. She did, however, become a sort of ‘matron’ for the senior boarders in ‘Pax’. Sr Mary Helen taught Latin and also introduced the more senior girls to playing cards for chocolate halfpennies! Sr Michael Mary did teach ‘the little ones’ as they were referred to – what happened to her? Sr Margaret Mary left the Convent and the headmistress in 1950 was Sr St Gerard who was killed in an accident in a train as it entered the St Gothard tunnel on its way to Rome. A school party was on a pilgrimage to Rome. I was a boarder from approx. 1943 – 1950. There were a couple of lay teachers at the time, Miss Feeney and Miss McGrath – any one remember? Fr O’Brien was the priest at the time and masses were held in the Chapel – no St Margaret’s had been built yet. Chime in if you have any other information or memories – would love to hear from anyone.

    By G. Barbara Holden (nee Fisher) (10/10/2011)
  • I was a day girl at St Martha’s from approx. 1959 to 1962. I think I remember a Sister Mary Pauline. Can anyone tell me the name of the headmistress at that time? There was a girl called Odette who was in my class but I can’t remember any other names.

    By Niki Britt (25/05/2015)
  • After all these years there has been no further news re the above questions. Anyone with a scrap of information, please chime in. I do recall a girl by the name of Betty Negus. She is now married and lives in Portugal. Where are the others – Ann Branford, Patty Haslett, Lavender Bennett, Dora Mills, Annette Mills, Deidre Stansell, Anne Romaine, Avril de Coverley, Jennifer Kramer ( a ‘little one” ) etc.?

    By Gloria Holden (nee Fisher) (12/10/2017)
  • Does anyone remember my sister Anne Lerner late ’50s?

    By David Lerner (05/05/2018)
  • I, Victoria Dickson  and my three year younger sister Jacqueline went to St Martha’s from approx 1956- 1964. We part boarded occasionally. I remember Sr Veronica, Mary Helen, Des Anges, Pauline, and Marie Christine the  Rev Mother ( she went on to be Head of Barnet Convent). I took my daughter and sister back to Rottingdean about 15 years ago, and I recognised the nun who opened the main door by her voice, Sr Pauline.  We sat in the parlour for a cuppa. She showed us the chapel, and veg garden. All the tennis courts, playing fields had been sold off. It is no longer a school, but a home for Irish unmarried mums and their babies. I remember Sue Carryer, Anna Aroba, Diane Hohaus, Jenny Beckwith,(boarder) Tina ?, Phylis Hunter, Norma Byrne, (both boarders) and Caroline Burbage. My sister’s friend was Caroline Munro. Dirk Bogarde went to St Martha’s as they took boys up to seven. This stopped shortly after I joined the school. I remember Hugh O’Hara as a little boy there, he went on to be GP in Rottingdean. I also remember, Angela?, Kenneth More‘s wife who was at the school in my first year. I remember teachers Miss Branford, Moira and her sister Linda? Anderson, panama hats, white gloves and blazers. Happy memories. It is now a Guest House.

    By Vicki Smith (22/05/2018)
  • I was a boarder from 1953-1963. I remember all the sisters (Sr. Mary Helen taught Latin and Spanish, Sr. Mary Pauline, Sr. Veronica, Sr. Mary Des Anges.  Still in touch with Phyllis Hunter, wondered what happened to others, Pat Brookes, Diana Thompson, Wendy Goddard, Jill Delaney. 

    I have lived in Canada for 48 years.

    By Tina O'Brien (nee Smith) Dian (03/11/2018)
  • I think my mother taught or assisted with art at the school in the early 1950s, she was certainly there 1951.I think she taught younger children, her name was Rae Keohan and she was Irish.

    By Maura Pell (13/05/2020)
  • Myself and my twin sister Sarah Rhys and our older sister Caroline were at St. Martha’s from 1958. I looked after ‘the little ones’ with Sr Jan Elizabeth in my last term there. Still friends with Sandra Peacock if anyone remembers us. Fond memories of Sr Mary Pauline, and teacher Miss Anderson.

    By Judith Giorgetti (21/06/2020)
  • I was a day boy in and around 1953 but I cannot remember anyone’s name from then. I was one of the only boys amongst a class of girls!

    By Jamie Hodge (24/06/2020)
  • I started in St Martha’s in 1957. I remember Sister Jan Elizabeth. When I went to stay at what is now St Martha’s guest house in the 1990s, a nun there Sister Jan Elizabeth had died. No real surprise, I suppose. Fr O’Brien, who was friends with my parents retired to Spain with his sister, where he died, I believe. I can’t remember anyone I was in class with there except a girl called Jane Stenton, who I’d see at Mass on Sundays at Our Lady of Lourdes church, which opened in 1958.

    By Brendan Martin (29/08/2020)
  • I think I remember Judith, did you want to be a ballet dancer? I remember Sharon, her Mum had a Hairdressers, and Wendy… her parents had the Chemists in Rottingdean
    I also remember Alexandriana, she went on to be Head Girl, She and her sister Donata were Nigerian? Boarders. I remember their family coming on Sports days all dressed in their national dress.
    I forgot to say previously that Sr Mary Pauline took us up to the convent cemetery. I remember seeing Sr Veronica’s and Sr Des Ange headstones.
    I remember she broke her arm, during a Science lesson. She stuck to Latin and French afterwards!! Happy days.
    Married , 4 grand children, living nr Southampton for 38 years.

    By Vicki Smith (11/09/2020)
  • Can we add photographs? I have found one of me in my St Martha’s uniform taken in 1957.

    By Brendan Martin (09/10/2020)
  • My 89 year old mother was a pupil at St’ Martha’s during the 1940’s. She has many memories and stories about her time there as a boarder. Her maiden name was Jennifer de Mott and her closest friend was Elizabeth Valentine also Patty Haslett, Avril de Covely, Lavender Bennett, Dora Mills, Anne Romaine. She also has many clear memories of the sisters; St. St Gerard, St. Mary Michael, St. Veronica, St. Mary Helen, Miss Kelly, Miss Mcgrath, and Father O’Brien. Some of her memories of the nuns were not altogether happy. She has many stories to share with anyone who remembers those times. Please do let us know if any of this is of interest as she would love to hear from you. Thank you.

    By Sarah Brabiner (27/10/2020)
  • I was a day girl from 1960 until St Martha’s closed. I was one of the ‘little ones’ I was heartbroken when I had to leave. Sister Veronica instructed me for my first holy communion and confession. Sister Jan Elizabeth was my kindergarten teacher and Sister Gérard taught me in year 1. I loved Sister Mary Pauline who would supervise playtime ‘up top’ or in St Joseph’s Garden. My friends that I remember were Sharon Scott, Deborah Taylor, Faith Davis, Julie and, Annette Price, Pat McNamara, Paul and Ian Hatley, Anne and Katherine ?? Guy Hetherington. Would love to hear from anyone who was at St Martha’s with me.

    By Kristina Blake née Bucknell (02/01/2021)
  • Just remembered some more names! Pamela Amos, Theresa Lyon Margaret Little, Annabel?, Joan Needham who had a younger brother but I can’t remember his name and finally Lawrence??
    St Martha’s was the only school where I was truly happy at.

    By Kristina Blake née Bucknell (03/01/2021)
  • I was a day girl then a boarder at St Martha’s in the late 1950’s and early 60’s. I remember how kind Sr Jan Elizabeth was and Sr Veronica and Sr Mary Pauline.
    Sr Mary Helen taught me Spanish and I remember Miss Anderson Senior and Miss Anderson Junior……Girls I remember from that time, some as friends ,some as prefects, were Eileen Martin, Pat Slade, Caroline, Judith and Sarah Rhys, Georgina, Jane and Sarah Hickman, Odette Dupres, not sure of that spelling!, Diana and Sylvia Thompson , Pat Brookes, Caroline Munro, Jane Dudeny whose family ran the village pub ,Pat Marshall, Noreen Wagstaff , Wendy Goddard, Carol Lewis……I still have a school photo somewhere gathering dust. It would be lovely to see photos of that time on here if that is possible. Happy days!

    If you find your photo Nina, let me know and I will help with its publication. Jennifer Drury (Editor)

    By Nina Dunne (25/03/2021)
  • I was at the convent as a boarder from 1960 for 10 years then to Barnet when it closed down. Would love to put my memories on the page. How do I do that?

    By Maggie Sayer (12/04/2021)
  • I am trying to find some information about my mother Jill Newman who was in a children’s home in Brighton in the 1930s, we believe it was run by nuns but have little Knowledge other than that. She would have been about 14 at the time, I do have a photo that my daughter kindly put onto the Brighton past web site, which has led us to St Martha’s convent. my mother came from a large family of 12 children, and was born in Matfield Kent in August 1925, sadly she is no longer with us. She never spoke of her childhood, the only information we had was from our father who may have got things a little muddled. I would love to find out more about my mothers childhood and how she ended up in the home or school, and why she was sent to Brighton when the family came from Kent. I would appreciate any help you may be able to give me. Thank you.

    By Hazel Ball (31/07/2021)
  • I was a day girl at St Martha’s circa 1955-1957 and have happy memories singing in the Choir. The nuns were so kind. I wonder if there are any photos from those times? I would love to know. Elizabeth Danckwerts née Wiltshire.

    By Elizabeth Danckwerts (16/12/2021)
  • My Sister Susan and I were at St Martha’s.She was there til mid 60’s.I left in 1959 to go to Varndean.Sarah and Judith Rhys were our neighbours in Saltdean.
    I remember Sr.Jeanne Elizabeth.She was my first teacher.I also remember Miss Hoggan and Moira and Jean Anderson,Sr Veronica and Mary Pauline.Susan and I are still in contact with Carly Bates and I have visited her in Scotland several times ,where I have lived for 48 years.I have many happy memories of school days .I remember Vicky Dickson,Phyllis Newman,Jennifer Beckwith,Pat Slade,Bobby Nelson and many others.

    By Jackie Powell (17/04/2022)
  • My grandmother was a 1930’s society lady who ran several hotels and didn’t have time for a small child so my mother (who passed over last year ) ,Patricia Fordham was a border at St Martha’s as a ‘little one’ and remembers riding a pony up round the windmill. Perhaps not getting the help she needed, as a dyslexic student, in those days the condition was not understood and the nuns just thought she was a bit dim. Guess she wasn’t the only child misunderstood in that way. Other than that, I think she had good memories. I often go to sit in the gardens at Rottingdean and feel my mothers presence there, as she loved the village, the windmill and the beach, and of course it’s nice to connect with the spirit of Rudyard Kipling, Burn Jones and other people connected with the place that I knew personally.
    If you suffered in any way at St Martha’s for any reason, remember deep forgiveness can be transformative. School is not always a happy place for everyone.

    By Nina Fordham-Betts (19/10/2022)

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